All posts filed under: Reviews

Stashed & Forgotten: Rouge Bunny Rouge Colour Burst Lipstick in Whim of Mine

Hello, I’m unveiling a new series here called “Stashed & Forgotten,” in which I post a review about products I have never spoken about at least 6 months after purchase. In the spotlight right now is a lipstick from Rouge Bunny Rouge called Whim of Mine. I don’t actually get why it has taken me this long to review it (I hauled it back in February), and why I don’t use it that much. Well, why I didn’t use it that much, anyway. After uncovering it again, I kind of feel like wearing it all the time. Whim of Mine is a peachier MLBB—or, My Lips But Better—shade. It looks quite boring in the tube, but it comes alive when applied. The formula of the Colour Burst Lipstick is quite creamy and opaque. It reminds me of the formula of the MAC Satin lipsticks, but there is quite a lot of slip and a tad bit less opacity and thickness. The application is a breeze, and it actually really feels comfortable to wear. Again, I …

Drugstore Finds: Maybelline Clear Smooth BB: 8-in-1 Cream*

Remember the Maybelline Search for the Top 8 BB Models? Maybelline kindly sent me three products from their Clear Smooth BB range, and I’ve tested them out for you. I’ll go through all of them quickly, hopefully demonstrating natural-looking “perfect skin.” What is Maybelline Clear Smooth BB? Known for its 8 healthy benefits, the 8-in-1 BB Cream brightens, evens, smooths, refines, clears, conceals, moisturizes and protects to give you perfectly flawless skin in an instant. Top it off with its affordable price, flexible shades, and varying formats, and it’s no wonder top models from New York all the way to Asia choose Maybelline Clear Smooth BB!” Too good to be true? Let’s find out! The first item I got to try is the BB Stick, which is the format suited for oily skin. The shade is in 01 Fresh, which is the lighter of the two available in all the products in the line. Since I have a tan, it looks scarily too light for me, but once blended out, it actually looks decent. I …

Favorite Fall Lipsticks: Berries & Reds

Here are some of my favorite fall lipsticks. Whenever I think of autumn & the holidays, my mind reverts to the vampy and the berry shades that I have. These are a bit on the pricier side, but if you don’t want to spring for a darker lip that you don’t know you can wear everyday, I’m sure you can get ideas and search for dupes if you find one that tickles your fancy. 🙂 L-R: MAC Plumful, NARS Vendanges, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Antigone, Snoe Beauty Plum Crazy, shu uemura x Karl Lagerfeld Luxe Burgundy (LE), Guerlain Rouge G L’Extrait M69 Orgueil, Addiction by Ayako Lady of the Lake, Le Métier de Beauté Hydra-Crème in Signature, Chanel Rouge Allure in Envoutante Here they are on the lips, for a better idea of how they wear: Ol’ Reliables are Orgueil, Vendanges, Lady of the Lake, Signature, and Envoutante. Plumful is also pretty reliable, though I find that I have to be in a certain mood to wear it. Luxe Burgundy pulls too red on …

Open Season: Mascaras in Rotation

Hello, everyone. I hope you’re doing well. While the typhoon, Haiyan/Yolanda, has been on its way out of the Philippines, it has left devastation in its wake. If you feel like you want to help out affected families and regions, click here for the post I made earlier. I’ll be making it a sticky post for about a week or so, for easy access. Buttons for donations to various organizations are on my sidebar as well. Eula, Shari, Eliza, Julia, and Liz also have posts on how to help. Bea has a nice post on the iffiness of blogging during these times, which is helpful to read before passing judgment on others. I hope you don’t think it callous of me to be posting during this tragedy. Most of these posts are pre-planned/pre-written, so I am not writing them on the spot. I have been doing all I can, as of now, to help out. Anyway, thank you for reading this little announcement. Every little bit helps, and we need all the help we can …

Drugstore Finds: Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Coral Crush*

I got this tube of Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick from the October box that the folks at BDJ were kind enough to send me. 🙂 It’s in Coral Crush, which if you have been following my blog for a while, isn’t a shade I would normally pick out for myself. Mostly because it is quite warm and orange-y. That color just doesn’t work for me. As far as drugstore lipsticks go, though, these ones by Maybelline are part of the “great quality” bunch. In this swatch, marvel at how opaque the coverage is with just two swipes! Coral Crush is a coral that leans warmer and orange-y, which is not something that is flattering on myself. I think it accentuates the yellow tones in my skin: Because of the slip of these lipsticks, they may go on a little patchily, especially if you have dry flakes. I am not a fan of the scent either. In general, though, if you are looking for a top-notch lipstick at a drugstore price, these might be for you. I …

Quickie: MAC Fix+

Marketed as a finishing spray, the MAC Fix+ was actually on my radar for another reason entirely. I knew you could use eyeshadows wet to get more intensity from them, but I also knew that water would destroy most eyeshadows. And then, I found out that a solution like MAC Fix+ was a work around, so after much dilly-dallying, I went and got myself a bottle. Thankfully, it works as an Eyeshadow Intensifier fairly well: Just spritz the brush, or onto a dish, and use the damp (not wet!) brush to apply the eyeshadow onto your eye. So easy, it kind of hurts. Also, please observe how intense that eyeshadow became. It is applied without a primer underneath, on both sides. As a setting spray, it works like a charm, too. The mist is pretty fine, which is not what you would expect when you see its nozzle. My makeup stay put throughout the day—I can’t really say anything else about that. One other cool thing about this is that the nozzle locks in place, …

bareMinerals Prime Time Primer Shadow in Bronzed Twig

Okay, so I’ve had this for a while. It’s basically a colored eye primer from bareMinerals called Prime Time Primer Shadow. I have it in Bronzed Twig. I can’t really explain why I never bothered to use this because as you will see in a bit, it is pretty gorgeous. Check out this swatch in the mean time: It reminds me of the Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadow, because this has quite a bit of sparkle and shine. This one’s a bit more pigmented and opaque, however. Bronzed Twig is a pretty warm, bronze-y midtone brown. It works well as a primer and it adds a lovely dimension and complexity to the eyeshadows you layer on top of it. The applicator and packaging are the almost deal-breakers, I think. It is hygienic, sure, but it is so hard to squeeze the primer out this little hole: Here is Bronzed Twig on my eyes: It’s a pretty easy look. I just applied Bronzed Twig over the mobile eyelid. (I warmed up the product first.) Then, I added a …